Lamont Brightful

Lamont Brightful Position: Return specialist College: Eastern Washington Who he is: He was the first of four players (195th overall) that the Ravens drafted in the sixth round this past spring. Brightful set NCAA Division I-AA records for career average per kickoff return (30.0 yards), career kickoffs returned for touchdowns (five) and average per return (26.4 on punts and kickoffs). Pre-game rituals: "Before the game starts, I'll be by myself and get my little praise to the Lord, and then I get my headphones on and get into the zone."

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis dangled a few carats last week, and his defense latched onto them like tipped passes. After being shown their leader's Super Bowl ring during a midweek speech, the Ravens responded yesterday with a dazzling performance, smashing the San Francisco 49ers, 44-6, before 69,549 at M&T Bank Stadium. Unlike last week's miraculous comeback against the Seattle Seahawks, the most lopsided victory in Ravens history was won on might. And that might was reminiscent of the Ravens' glory days.

On a day when the rest of the AFC North failed to escape with last-minute comebacks, the Ravens survived in the end by delivering a familiar - if not excruciating - replay. Whether they were going on memory or might yesterday, the Ravens forced three turnovers in the fourth quarter, including Ray Lewis ' interception with 44 seconds left, to sidestep an upset and ring up a 24-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Just like last Sunday, another big play by Lewis and fourth-quarter turnovers were the major difference.

Rating the QBs How the Ravens' quarterbacks stacked up in yesterday's team drills: 1. Chris Redman Had the two biggest completions of practice, connecting on a 22-yard pass to Frank Sanders and a 40-yard, high-arcing throw to Travis Taylor. He again looked shaky against the first-team defense in a two-minute drill, moving the ball six yards in 1:20. A miscommunication with Taylor led to Redman throwing an interception directly to cornerback Chris McAlister to end the hurry-up session.

Five weeks before players report to training camp, the Ravens have begun preliminary talks with their draft picks. Last year at this time, the team had made quick work of negotiations, locking up three of its seven draft choices. But the Ravens, who have 10 draft picks to sign this year, are far from worried. "We anticipate all of our draft picks to be signed by the start of training camp," said Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens' senior vice president of football operations. "But holdouts are part of our business."

One lesson was reinforced on Day 2 of the NFL draft. Stubbornness is the cornerstone of the Ravens' philosophy. Resisting the temptation to fill needs along the offensive line, defensive line and at cornerback, the Ravens used their first pick of the fourth round (112th overall) on Ohio University punter David Zastudil. The team stood by its credo of best available player regardless of position despite how puzzling a selection it appears. "I think one thing with Ozzie [Newsome, senior vice president of football operations]

To make linebacker Ray Lewis feel as though nothing has changed, the Ravens, who switched their home surface to artificial turf, left a patch of real grass in front of the players' tunnel at M&T Bank Stadium. Lewis, per his tradition before his pre-game introduction, picked the sod up, threw it in the air and sent the crowd of 68,550 at last night's preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills into a frenzy with his customary dance. A short time later, Lewis led his defense onto the field in what looked like old times.

For all the focus on whether the Ravens will draft that elusive franchise quarterback with the 10th overall pick, team officials have tuned out the hype and dedicated equal energy to finding that sleeper on the second day. "We devote almost the same amount of time," Ravens player personnel director Phil Savage said. "All the focus in the public eye is on the first round, but the later players get the same opportunity to be read in our room as the first pick of the draft. "Obviously, we're going to have eight or nine reports on a Carson Palmer, whereas Chad Williams [a sixth-round pick last year]

The Ravens are staring down their final two AFC North showdowns after proving bulletproof in the wild West. They sweated out a late replay challenge, scored touchdowns on two length-of-the-field drives and stepped up defensively with two interceptions to squeeze out a 23-19 win over the Houston Texans yesterday before 70,108 at Reliant Stadium.After watching a 13-point lead dwindle down to four in the fourth quarter, the Ravens (7-7) stayed alive in the playoff race by surviving at the end -- again.

To make linebacker Ray Lewis feel as though nothing has changed, the Ravens, who switched their home surface to artificial turf, left a patch of real grass in front of the players' tunnel at M&T Bank Stadium. Lewis, per his tradition before his pre-game introduction, picked the sod up, threw it in the air and sent the crowd of 68,550 at last night's preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills into a frenzy with his customary dance. A short time later, Lewis led his defense onto the field in what looked like old times.

Rating the QBs How the Ravens' quarterbacks stacked up in yesterday's team drills: 1. Chris Redman Had the two biggest completions of practice, connecting on a 22-yard pass to Frank Sanders and a 40-yard, high-arcing throw to Travis Taylor. He again looked shaky against the first-team defense in a two-minute drill, moving the ball six yards in 1:20. A miscommunication with Taylor led to Redman throwing an interception directly to cornerback Chris McAlister to end the hurry-up session.

For all the focus on whether the Ravens will draft that elusive franchise quarterback with the 10th overall pick, team officials have tuned out the hype and dedicated equal energy to finding that sleeper on the second day. "We devote almost the same amount of time," Ravens player personnel director Phil Savage said. "All the focus in the public eye is on the first round, but the later players get the same opportunity to be read in our room as the first pick of the draft. "Obviously, we're going to have eight or nine reports on a Carson Palmer, whereas Chad Williams [a sixth-round pick last year]

The Ravens are staring down their final two AFC North showdowns after proving bulletproof in the wild West. They sweated out a late replay challenge, scored touchdowns on two length-of-the-field drives and stepped up defensively with two interceptions to squeeze out a 23-19 win over the Houston Texans yesterday before 70,108 at Reliant Stadium.After watching a 13-point lead dwindle down to four in the fourth quarter, the Ravens (7-7) stayed alive in the playoff race by surviving at the end -- again.

In yesterday's theater of the absurd, the Ravens acted out a story of redemption. Recovering from humiliating fumbles and ghastly special teams mistakes, the Ravens proved resilient with four turnovers and opportunistic returns, persevering in a bizarre, 38-27 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals before 69,024 at Ravens Stadium.Ending a two-game skid, the Ravens (4-5) found new ways to the end zone and new hope in their roller-coaster season. Converted defensive end Adalius Thomas and little-used return specialist Lamont Brightful scored their first touchdowns to move the Ravens into a tie with the second-place Cleveland Browns and inch them within 1 1/2 games of the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers.

Lamont Brightful Position: Return specialist College: Eastern Washington Who he is: He was the first of four players (195th overall) that the Ravens drafted in the sixth round this past spring. Brightful set NCAA Division I-AA records for career average per kickoff return (30.0 yards), career kickoffs returned for touchdowns (five) and average per return (26.4 on punts and kickoffs). Pre-game rituals: "Before the game starts, I'll be by myself and get my little praise to the Lord, and then I get my headphones on and get into the zone."

In yesterday's theater of the absurd, the Ravens acted out a story of redemption. Recovering from humiliating fumbles and ghastly special teams mistakes, the Ravens proved resilient with four turnovers and opportunistic returns, persevering in a bizarre, 38-27 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals before 69,024 at Ravens Stadium.Ending a two-game skid, the Ravens (4-5) found new ways to the end zone and new hope in their roller-coaster season. Converted defensive end Adalius Thomas and little-used return specialist Lamont Brightful scored their first touchdowns to move the Ravens into a tie with the second-place Cleveland Browns and inch them within 1 1/2 games of the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis dangled a few carats last week, and his defense latched onto them like tipped passes. After being shown their leader's Super Bowl ring during a midweek speech, the Ravens responded yesterday with a dazzling performance, smashing the San Francisco 49ers, 44-6, before 69,549 at M&T Bank Stadium. Unlike last week's miraculous comeback against the Seattle Seahawks, the most lopsided victory in Ravens history was won on might. And that might was reminiscent of the Ravens' glory days.

Five weeks before players report to training camp, the Ravens have begun preliminary talks with their draft picks. Last year at this time, the team had made quick work of negotiations, locking up three of its seven draft choices. But the Ravens, who have 10 draft picks to sign this year, are far from worried. "We anticipate all of our draft picks to be signed by the start of training camp," said Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens' senior vice president of football operations. "But holdouts are part of our business."